The theatre of Gods judgements wherein is represented the admirable justice of God against all notorious sinners ... / collected out of sacred, ecclesiasticall, and pagan histories by two most reverend doctors in divinity, Thomas Beard ... and Tho. Taylor ...

CHAP. XXI. Of Rapes.

NOw if Adultery, which with liking and consent of par∣ties is committed, be condemned, how much more grievous and hainous is the offence and more guilty the offendour, when with violence the chastity of any i••, assailed, and enforced? This was the sin wherewith Si∣chem the son of Hemor the Levite is marked in holy Scripture; for he ravished Dina, Iacobs daughter, for which cause Simeon and Levi revenged the injury done unto their sister up∣on the head of not onely him and his father, but all the Males that were in the City, by putting them to the sword.

It was a custome amongst the Spartans and Messenians during the time, of peace betwixt them, to send yearly to one another certain of their daugh∣ters, to celebrate certain feasts and sacrifices that were amongst them: now

in continuance of time it chanced that fifty of the Lacedemonian virgins being come to those solemne feasts, were pursued by the Messenian gallants, to have their pleasures of them: but they joyntly making resistance, and fighting for their honesties, strove so long, not one yeelding themselves a prey into their hands, till they all died: whereupon arose so long and mise∣rable a war, that all the Countrey of Messena was destroyed thereby.

Aristoclides a Tyran of Orchomenus a City of Arcadia, fell enamored with a maid of Stymphalis: who seeing her father by him slain, because he seemed to stand in his purposes light, fled to the Temple of Diana, to take Sanctuary, neither could once be plucked from the image of the goddesse, untill her life was taken from her but her death so incensed the Arcadi∣ans, that they fell to Armes and sharpely revenged her cruell injury.

Appius a Roman, a man of power and authority in the City, inflamed with the love of a virgine, whose father hight Virginius, would needs make her his servant, to the end to abuse her the more freely, and whilest he en∣deavoured with all his power and policy to accomplish his immoderate lust, her father slew her with his owne hands, more willing to prostitute her to death, than to so soul an opprobry and disgrace: but every man stirred up with the wofulnesse of the event, with one consent pursued, apprehen∣ded, and imprisoned the foul lecher; who fearing the award of a most shamefull death, killed himselfe to prevent a further mischief.

In the year of our Lord 1271. under the Raigne of the Emperour Ro∣dolph, the Sicilians netled and enraged with the horrible whoredomes, adul∣teries and Rapes, which the Garrisons that had the government over them committed, not able any longer to endure their insolent and outragious de∣meanour, entered a secret and common conspiracy upon a time appointed for the purpose, which was on Easter Sunday, at the shutting in of the evening, to set upon them with one accord, and to murder so many as they could: as they did, for at that instant they massacred so many throughout the whole Island, that of all the great multitude there survived not one to bear tidings, or bewail the dead.

At Naples it chanced in the Kings Palace, as young King Fredericke, Ferdinands son, entered the Privy Chamber of the Queen his mother, to salute her and the other Ladies of the Court, that the Prince of Bissenio waiting in the outward chamber for his returne, was slain by one of his owne servants, that suddenly gave him with his sword three deadly strokes in the presence of many beholders; which deed he confessed he had watch∣ed three yeares to performe, in regard of an injury done unto his sister, and in her to him, whom he ravished against her will.

The Spaniards that first took the Isle Hispaniola, were for their whore∣domes and Rapes, which they committed upon the wives and virgines, all murdered by the inhabitants.

The inhabitants of the Province Cumana, when they saw the beastly outrage of the Spanish Nation, that lay along their Coasts to fish for Pearle, in forcing and ravishing (without difference) their women young and old, set upon them upon a Sunday morning with all their force, and slew all that ever they found by the Sea-coasts Westward, till there remain∣ed not one alive: and the fury of the rude uncivill people was so great, that they spared not the Monkes in their Cloysters, but cut their throats as they were mumbling their Masses; burnt up the Spanish houses, both religious

and private, burst in pieces their bels, drew about their Images, hurld downe their Crucifixes, and cast them in disgrace and contempt overthwart their streets to be troden upon: nay, they destroyed whatsoever belonged unto them, to their very dogs and hennes, and their owne countrymen that served them in any service, whether religious or other, they spared not, they beat the earth, and cursed it with bitter curses, because it had upholden such wicked and wretched Caitises. Now the report of this massacre was so fearfull and terrible, that the Spaniards which were in Cubagna doubted much of their lives also; and truly not without great cause: for if the In∣dians of the Continent had been furnished and provided with sufficient store of barkes, they had passed even into that Island, and had served them with the same sauce which their fellowes were served with; for they want∣ed not will, but ability to do it. And these are the goodly fruits of their Adulteries and Rapes, which the Spanish Nation hath reaped in their new∣found land.

The great calamity and overthrow which the Lacedemonians indured at Lectria, wherein their chiefest strength and powers were weakened and con∣sumed, was a manifest punishment of their inordinate lust committed up∣on two virgins, whom after they had ravished, in that very place they cut in pieces and threw them into a pit: and when their father came to complain him of the villany, they made so light account of his words, that in stead of redresse he found nothing but reproach and derision, so that with grief he slew himselfe upon his daughters sepulchre: but how grievously the Lord revenged this injury, Histories do sufficiently testifie, and that Leu∣ctrian calamity doth bear witnesse.

Brias a Grecian Captain being received into a Citizens house as a guest, forced his wife by violence to his lust: but when he was asleep, to revenge her wrong, she put out both his eyes; and afterward complained to the Citizens also, who deprived him of his Office, and cast him out of their City.

Macrinus the Emperour punished two Souldiers that ravished their Hostesse on this manner: he shut them up in an Oxes bowels with their heads out, and so partly with famishment, and partly with wormes and rot∣tennesse, they consumed to death.

Rodericus King of the Gothes in Spain forced an Earles daughter to his lust; for which cause her father brought against him an Army of Sarasens and Moores, and not onely slew him with his son, but also quite extinguish∣ed the Gothicke kingdom in Spain: in this war, and upon this occasion, seven hundred thousand men perished, as Histories record, and so a king∣dom came to ruine by the perverse lust of one lecher, Anno 714.

At the sacking and destruction of Thebes by King Alexander, a Thracian Captain which was in the Macedonian Army took a noble Matron prison∣er, called Timoclea, whom when by no perswasion of promises he could intice to his lust, he constrained by force to yeeld unto it: but this noble minded woman invented a most witty and subtle shift both to rid her selfe out of his hands, and to revenge his injury: she told him, that she knew where a rich treasure lay hid in a deep pit; whither when with greedinesse of the gold he hastened, and standing upon the brinke, pried and peered into the bot∣tome of it, she thrust him with both her hands into the hole, and tumbled stones after him, that he might never finde meanes to come forth: for

which fact she was brought before Alexander, to have justice; who de∣manding her what she was, she answered, that Theagenes, who led the The∣bane Army against the Macedonians, was her brother. Alexander percei∣ving the marvellous constancy of the woman, and knowing the cause of her accusation to be unjust, manumitted and set her free with her whole Family.

When C••. Manlius having conquered the Gallo-Grecians, pitched his Army against the Tectosages (people of Narbonia towards the Pyrene monntaines) amongst other prisoners, a very fair woman, wife to Orgiagous Regulus, was in the custody of a Centurion, that was both lustfull and cove∣tous: this lecher tempted her first with fair perswasions, and seeing her unwilling, compelled her with violence to yeeld her body, as slave to for∣tune, so to infamy and dishonour: after which act, somewhat to mitigate the wrong, he gave her promise of release and freedom, upon condition of a certain sum of money; and to that purpose, sent her servant that was captive with her to her friends to purvey the same: which he bringing, the Centurion alone, with the wronged Lady met him at a place appointed, and whilest he weighed the money, by her counsell was murdered of her servants: so she escaping, carried to her husband both his money, and threw at his feet the villaines head that had spoiled her of her chastity.

Andreas King of Hungary having undertaken the voyage into Syria for the recovery of the Holy Land, together with many other Kings and Prin∣ces, committed the charge of his Kingdom and Family to one Bannebanius, a wise and faithfull man, who discharged his Office as faithfully as he took it willingly upon him. Now the Queen had a brother called Gertrude, that came to visit and comfort his sister in her husbands absence, and by that meanes sojourned with her a long time, even so long, till he fell deadly in love with Bannebanius Lady, a fair and vertuous woman, and one that was thought worthy to keep company with the Queen continually: to whom when he had unfolded his suit, and received such stedfast repulse, that he was without all hope of obtaining his desire, he began to droup and pine, untill the Queen his sister perceiving his disease, found this perverse reme∣dy for the cure thereof; she would often give him opportunity of dis∣course, by withdrawing her selfe from them being alone, and many times leave them in secret and dangerous places, of purpose that he might have his will of her, but she would never consent unto his lust; and therefore at last, when he saw no remedy, he constrained her by force, and made her sub∣ject to his will against her will: which vile disgracefull indignity when she had suffered, she returned home sad and melancholy, and when her husband would have embraced her, she fled from him, asking him, if he would em∣brace a whore, and related unto him her whole abuse, desiring him either to rid her from shame by death, or to revenge her wrong, and make knowne unto the world the injury done unto her. There needed no more spurres to pricke him forward for revenge: he posteth to the Court, and upbraiding the Queen with her ungratefull and abominable treachery, runneth her through with his sword, and taking her heart in his hand, proclaimeth openly, that it was not a deed of inconsideration, but of judgement, in re∣compence of the losse of his wives chastity: forthwith he flieth towards the King his Lord, that now was at Constantinople, and declaring to him his fact, and shewing to him his sword besmeared with his wives bloud,

submitteth himselfe to his sentence, either of death in rigour, or pardon in compassion: but the good King enquiring the truth of the cause, though grieved with the death of his wife, yet acquit him of the crime, and held him in as much honour and esteem as ever he did; condemning also his wife as worthy of that which she had endured, for her unwomanlike and traiterous part. A notable example of justice in him, and of punishment in her, that forgetting the law of womanhood and modesty, made her selfe a Bawd unto her brothers lust: whose memory as it shall be odious and execrable, so his justice deserveth to be engraven in marble with characters of gold.

Equal to this King in punishing a Rape, was Otho the first: for as he passed through Italy with an Army, a certain woman cast her selfe downe at his feet for justice against a villain that had spoiled her of her chastity; who deferring the execution of the law till his returne, because his haste was great, the woman asked, who should then put him in minde thereof? he answered, This Church which thou seest shall be a witnesse betwixt me and thee, that I will then revenge thy wrong. Now when he had made an end of this warfare, in his returne, as he beheld the Church, he called to minde the woman, and caused her be fetched; who falling downe before him, desired now pardon for him whom before she had accused, seeing he had now made her his wife, and redeemed his injury with sufficient satis∣faction: not so I swear (quoth Otho) your compacting shall not infringe, or colludo the sacred Law, but he shall die for his former fault, and so he caused him to be put to death. A notable example for them, that after they have committed filthinesse with a maid, thinke it no sin, but competent amends, if they take her in marriage whom they abused before in forni∣cation.

Nothing inferiour to these in punishing this sin, was Gonzaga Duke of Ferrara, as by this History following may appear. In the year 1547. a Ci∣tizen of Comun was cast into Prison upon an accusation of murder, whom to deliver from the judgement of death, his wife wrought all meanes possi∣ble: therefore comming to the Captain that held him Prisoner, she sued to him for her husbands life; who upon condition of her yeelding to his lust and payment of two hundred Ducats, promised safe deliverance for him; the poor woman seeing that nothing could redeem her husbands life, but losse and shipwracke of her owne honesty, told her husband: who wil∣led her to yeeld to the Captaines desire, and not to pretermit so good an oc∣casion; wherefore she consented: but after the pleasure past, the traiterous and wicked Captain put her husband to death notwithstanding: which in∣jury when she complained to Gonzaga Duke of Ferrara, he caused the Cap∣tain first to restore backe her two hundred Ducats, with an addition of seven hundred Crownes, and secondly to marry her to his wife; and lastly, when he hoped to enjoy her body, to be hanged for his treachery. O noble justice, and comparable to the worthiest deeds of Antiquity, and deserving to be held in perpetuall remembrance!

As these before mentioned excelled in punishing this sin, so this fellow following excelled in committing it, and in being punished for it; his name is Novellus Cararius, Lord of Pavie, a man of note and credit in the World for his greatnesse, but of infamy and discredit for his wickednesse. This man after many cruell murders and bloudy practises, which he exer∣cised

in every place where he came, fell at last into this notorious and ab∣hominable crime; for lying at Vincentia, he fell in love with a young maid of excellent beauty, but more excellent honesty, an honest Citizens daugh∣ter, whom he commanded her parents to send unto him, that he might have his pleasure of her: but when they regarding their credit, and she her cha∣stity, more than the Tyrans command, refused to come, he took her vio∣lently out of their house, and constrained her body to his lust; and after, to adde cruelty to villany, chopped her into small pieces, and sent them to her parents in a basket for a present: wherewith her poor father astonished; carried it to the Senate, who sent it to Venice, desiring them to consider the fact, and to revenge the cruelty. The Venetians undertaking their defence, made war upon the Tyran, and besieging him in his owne City, took him at last prisoner, and hanged him with his two sons, Francis and William.

Diocles, son of Pisistratus, Tyran of Athens, for ravishing a maid was slain by her brother; whose death when Hippias his brother undertook to revenge, and caused the maidens brother to be racked, that he might disco∣ver the other conspiratours, he named all the Tyrans friends (which by commandment being put to death) the Tyran asked, whether there were any more? None but onely thy selfe (quoth he) whom I would wish next to be hanged; whereby it was perceived how abundantly he had revenged his sisters chastity: by whose notable stomacke all the Athenians being put in remembrance of their liberty, expelled their Tyran Hippias out of their City.

Mundus, a young Gentleman of Rome, ravished the chaste Matron Pau∣lina in this fashion: when he perceived her resolution not to yeeld unto his lust, he perswaded the Priests of Isis to say, that they were warned by an Oracle, how that Anubius the god of Egypt, desired the company of the said Paulina: to whom the chaste Matron gave light credence, both because she thought the Priests would not lie, and also because it was accounted a great renowne to have to do with a god: and thus by this meanes was Pau∣lina abused by Mundus in the Temple of Isis, under the name of Anubius. Which thing being after disclosed by Mundus himselfe, he was thus justly revenged; the Priests were put to death, the Temple beaten downe to the ground, the Image of Isis throwne into Tiber, and the young man banished.

A principall occasion of the Danes first arrivall here in England (which after conquered the whole Land, and exercised among the Inhabitants most horrible cruelties and outrages) was a Rape committed by one Osbright a deputy King, under the King of the West-Saxons in the North part. This Osbright upon a time journeying by the way, turned into the house of one of his Nobles called Bruer, who having a wife of great beauty (he being from home) the King after dinner (allured with her excellent beauty) took her to a secret Chamber, where he forcibly, contrary to her will, ravished her: whereupon she being greatly dismayed and vexed, made her mone to her husband at his returne, of this violence and injury received. The No∣bleman forthwith studying revenge, first went to the King, and resigned to his hands all such services and possessions which he held of him, and then took shipping and sailed into Denmarke, where he had great friends, and had his bringing up: there making his mone to Codrinus the King, desired his aid in revenging of the great villany of Osbright against him and his wife. Codrinus glad to entertain any occasion of quarrell against this Land,

presently levied an Army, and preparing all things for the same, sendeth forth Inguar and Hubba, two brethren, with a mighty Army of Danes into England; who first arriving at Holdernesse, burnt up the Countrey, and killed without mercy both men, women, and children: then marching to∣wards Yorke, encountered with wicked Osbright himselfe, where he, with the most part of his Army was slain and discomfited: a just reward for his villanous act; as also one chief cause of the Conquest of the whole Land by the Danes.

In the year of our Lord 955. Edwine succeeding his uncle Eldred, was King of England: this man was so impudent, that in the very day of his Coronation he suddenly withdrew himselfe from his Lords, and in sight of certain persons ravished his owne kinswoman, the wife of a Nobleman of his Realme, and afterward slew her husband, that he might have unlawfull use of her beauty: for which act he became so odious to his Subjects and Nobles, that they joyntly rose against him, and deprived him of his Crowne, when he had reigned four yeares.

Notes

• Go••.
• Titus 1. vius.
• Nic. Gil. vol. 1.
• ••emb. lib. 3. bist. Venet.
• Benzon. Milan. of the new-found Land.
• The same Au∣thour.
• Phil. Melanct. lib. 2.
• Pausan. lib. 2.
• Iohan. Magnus.
• Plut. in vita Alexand. Sabel. lib. 5 c. 6.
• Liv. l. b. 33
• Chronica Hun∣••ariae.
• Albert, Crantz. lib. 3.
• Theat. hist.
• Theat. hist.
• Lanquet.
• Lanq. ••••ron.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 historia Iornalo••••i.
• Lanquet.